In a new appeal on Tuesday, Detective Superintendent Helen Chamberlain urged Miss Baldwin to get in touch with police, saying she understood it was a "very difficult time" for her.

"I cannot imagine what you are going through and what you are thinking at this time," DS Chamberlain said. "And as a mother of a child of a similar age, I cannot begin to imagine what is happening in your mind.

"I can only empathise with you."

DS Chamberlain said there had been no "direct contact" with Miss Baldwin "for over a week" and that officers "need to know she and the boys are safe".

"Sam, we need to speak to you directly," she added.

On Monday last week, Nottingham Family Court ordered the two boys be removed from their mother's care.

Then at the weekend, in a highly unusual move, it issued a statement saying: "It is assumed that she has abducted Louis and Dylan. The children have now been made wards of court.

"Miss Baldwin is considered to pose a risk of harm to the children."

Police have appealed to anyone who may have information about the trio to come forward and let them know where the boys are safe.

Ms Baldwin is described as 5ft 7in, of slim build, with shoulder-length blonde hair and green-blue eyes; Louis has collar-length straight fair hair, a fair complexion and blue eyes, while his brother Dylan has collar-length straight brown hair, a tanned complexion and brown eyes.

Anyone with information should call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 urgently, quoting incident number 332 of March 27.